heh, I thought I was the only one who thought that. But modern Marvels is a pretty good show.

Seriously though, this ship sinks itself and you drive you boat onto it. (after a surveyor looks at your boat and has the deckhands make the cradles) then it refloats, takes you to where need to go (at least their destination anyway), sinks and you drive off. They provide shorepower, water while you continue to live on your boat for the duration of the trip.

So basically while under way, you can do your bottom job and any other repairs, get to your destination quickly without having to pay in terms of time, sailing, motoring and fuel costs, flight bills and etc...

First, some clarifications on Dockwise. You don't need a survey, but they will ask for a lot of measurements. I assume this is for pricing, capacity planning, loading order, special needs, etc. Divers will set supports based on what they see, not the measurements you send (and you will have black rubber marks on your hull). Second, don't plan on riding along. They have limited (legally, they say) passenger capacity. That is reserved for much bigger yachts with full time crews. In 2004, I think the stated cutoff was 70'.

More to the point, these posts are screaming this... "Are you sure this boat is the deal you think it is?" You have to consider the total cost of delivery. Purchase price and Dockwise's quote is just the beginning. If you get the 20% discount, factor in 5+ months storage. You must pay in full 5 months before loading to get the discount (10% is 3 months). You also have to get the boat to and from Dockwise's terminals. That means getting your crew to the boat, sailing to Ft. Lauderdale or Newport, RI for the loading (plan to get there early, and dates do change). Getting your crew to the unloading port (say Brisbane) a little early and spending a few days in a hotel since they can't set a specific date (costs still adding up). Then all that is left is sailing back to Thailand! One more thing, they also require written proof of marine transport insurance. I had BoatUS (my insurer at the time) send me a letter stating that I was specifically covered for this type of transport. They didn't charge me for it, but I was traveling from a covered area to a covered area. In any case, you will need to factor in insurance costs.

If you can add up these very real costs, and still say this boat is a good deal, then do it! Otherwise, keep shopping... and go into the next deal considering the "total cost of delivery". Good Luck

It's tough trying to give sound advice and not sound like ones throwing buckets of cold water on someones lovely dreams - but I'm hoping this is one plan you don't see started without considering other options.

I'd always wish to think I'm the kind of person who always 'goes for it' and would normally encourage others to do the same - but we've enough experience to know sailing is not always fair winds and sunny days. It can get hard. And if it gets to hard one tends to give it up.

I don't think anyone wishes for you to get into a position where you might do that - as we'd loose a new sailing colleague.

But with respect - if you are truly new to sailing then perhaps the criteria you've set yourself (which make you want to buy a non cruising boat thousands of miles away) might be worth reviewing?

As others have advised, there are plenty of yachts in or around the Asian region which could possibly fit your budget, meet your cruising needs, get you cruising safer and quicker - and also in the region of your choice. A lengthy delivery trip by an inexperienced skipper, on what sounds like a most unlikely cruising and certainly untested boat, with strangers as crew, and maybe going the wrong way - is hardly the best way to get involved in long term cruising.

Especially as even if you make it OK, you'll still end up with a huge conversion job to do before you can comfortably consider moving on to cuising full time.

Sorry it it sounds like and old fart type response - but sometimes rah rah is not the correct advice to give. I really hope you get cruising one day - but please do it with due care for yourself and your crew.

I have been busy. At this point a very good chance the trip is on. Via the Sth Pacific Islands. I have a very experienced Captain and some keen crew. The survey on the boat should be done soon weather permitting. They need above zero temps to untilize the testing equipment. I am looking at work needed pre trip ( safety/ batteries etc. ) America is by far cheaper than Asia or Australia, in some cases nearly half the price to buy a yacht. Shipping is out of the question. A quote to Bangkok was $40,000. I will do the trip for less than $10,000, have 4-5 months of the Pacific Islands, learn to sail, do some fishing and have an experience of a lifetime. My intentions at the moment are to do a simple interior and keep the boat light. The local guys at the marina here gave me their opinion, "great boat, can we race on it"

I will check the history chanel lead, thanks for the tip.

bye for now

Phil

p.s. How many people have sailed the South Pacific Islands and hated it even allowing for mishaps/illness/lack of wind?

I just don't see how you are going to be able to do it in less than 6 months. Hurricane/cyclone seasons are just one problem.

Experienced sailors, well-found boat needing no repairs after a passage:

2 weeks, Baltimore to Virgin islands.

2 weeks, VIs to Colon, Panama (and this can be a nasty sleigh ride.

1 week, through Canal

1 month to Marquesas

1 month to Tahiti

2 to 3 weeks to Tonga

1 week to Fiji

1 week to Vanuatu or New caledonia (suggest vanuatu). A week up the chain, then on to Darwin (or Thursday Island) - 3 weeks, more likely 4.

2 months minimum through Indonesia.

2 weeks to Thailand.

Add it up. That's 8 months with no stopping to smell the roses or repair the things that are going to break. If you don't time it right, you're going to be waiting somewhere for cyclone season to end. Right now you have until May 1 to leave Baltimore, and you have until December 1 to get to Indonesia (cyclone season S. pacific is December 1 to May 1, but can start earlier, end later). And do you think you can get insurance? be very, very careful.

fair winds,

Jeanne

__________________In 1986 we went cruising for a few years. After 20 years and 50+ countries and several oceans, we are STILL "cruising for a few years".

You admit that you have very little sailing experience, that you cannot afford the luxury of six months, you cannot afford the cost of a professional delivery crew, you have no navigational skills and you're not even sure which ocean Baltimore is on.

I believe you should give your head a shake and think about this a while. This is not a Racer Log.

In the meantime - maybe it would be a good idea for you to charter a boat of similar size & type, round-up the first "very experienced captain & crew" that comes along, go out over the horizon for a month or so... and then write back and tell us all of your experiences.

Phillip...some excellent advise given here. It's up to you to decide but consider the consequences of your inexperience. If it doesn' kill you it will put you into financial difficulties. Don't be a Darwin candidate. Enough said and good luck.

yes, i am getting the picture. The yacht could not be further away. Looking for a yacht last 2 months, the best three boats, around 50k US are on the East coast area. Would be close to double the price in Thailand. Maybe its the hurricanes. I did not think it would be that hard.

i am going blind researching this on the net. I am hoping shipping will be the answer, any ideas out there on cost to ship from Ft lauderdale to say New Zealand

The besy way is by DockWise sail on sail off BUT it aint cheap about US$40k!!! If you insist on buying a boat in the US, why not the west coast?

West coast to Thailand is very do-able. The north Pacific route via Hawaii and Japan is probably less predictable than the coconut milk run through the south Pacific via Tahiti and New Zealand.

If your boat is well found, your crew is experienced, you set sail at the appropriate time to take advantage of the trade winds, and you don't make or try to keep appointments, you will have a really good time.

Prepare, learn and shoot through. You will sail through storms, but with prudence and determination, you will ultimately see Phang Na bay across your bow.

__________________

__________________
"if at first you don't succeed....Redefine success"!